MICELLAR SOLUBILIZATION OF UNSATURATED HYDROCARBON CONCENTRATIONS AS EVALUATED BY SEMIEQUILIBRIUM DIALYSIS

Prior research on surfactant solubilization has emphasized steady-state conditions in the presence of excess hydrocarbon for single-component systems. These conditions do not accurately emulate the natural subsurface environment. Evaluation of solubilization potential for unsaturated hydrocarbon concentrations revealed influences of micellar core and palisade layer effects on hydrocarbons of varying polarity, Naphthane, naphthalene, and l-naphthol were utilized to probe for core and palisade effects. Surfactants evaluated were sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate and C16-alkyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate. Use of semiequilibrium dialysis cells provided quantitative solubilization information for unsaturated hydrocarbon concentrations. Palisade and core solubilization effects were observed as follows: as the more fraction increased, K-m increased for naphthane, decreased for naphthol, and remained relatively constant for naphthalene.